Total Complaints
3 filings
KENWORTH KENWORTH · model year
1996 KENWORTH KENWORTH
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996KENWORTHKENWORTH carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 KENWORTH is structure with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages (1) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1996 KENWORTH. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19981030FireFatalLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IMPROPER DESIGN OF THE CAB CAUSED IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE CHASSIS DURING THE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF THE DRIVER.
19981030FireFatalFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
IMPROPER DESIGN AND WEAK MATERIALS CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO RUPTURE AND THE WRECKAGE TO CATCH ON FIRE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
19980616STRUCTURE
CAB SEPARETED FROM THE CHASSIS DURING THE ACCIDENT, RESULTING THE GAS TANK REPTURED AND THE WRECKAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE.
Compare 1996KENWORTHKENWORTH to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 KENWORTH KENWORTH have?▼
The 1996 KENWORTH KENWORTH has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 KENWORTH KENWORTH?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 KENWORTH KENWORTH is STRUCTURE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1996 KENWORTH KENWORTH safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.